Alma Mater Magazine - Fall 2005

University Awards

William H. Ruffner Medal

William E. Betts, Jr. '32

Betts received his bachelor's degree in architectural engineering in 1932, graduating first in his class. He continued to study the field of structural engineering, receiving his master's degree in 1933 and becoming a registered architect in 1934. During World War II, Betts was an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was among the troops that landed on Omaha Beach. He has had a successful and distinguished 60-year career in the structural steel industry and co-founded the Montague-Betts Company in 1938. He was a structural steel fabricator of several major construction projects including the World Trade Center. Betts has served as a director of the Virginia Tech Educational Foundation and the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, served on the Regional Capital Campaign Committee and was a charter member of the Rowe Fellow Program. He is a member of the Engineering Committee of 100 and serves on the President's Council Membership Committee for Lynchburg. Betts has been honored for his service to his profession and to his alma mater - reflected by his induction into the Academy of Engineering Excellence, receipt of the Alumni Distinguished Service Award, the College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award and the Academy of Distinguished Alumni Award from the Charles E. Via Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His generosity to Virginia Tech has earned him recognition as a Senior Benefactor in the Ut Prosim Society. His philanthropy has supported the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, intercollegiate athletics, and the College of Engineering where he established the William E. Betts, Jr. Professorship in the Department of Civil Engineering.

Alumni Distinguished Service Awards

Marcella K. Arline '74

Arline, a native of Bedford, Virginia, graduated from Virginia Tech in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in food science and technology and has achieved professional success after embarking on a 20-plus year career with the Hershey Company. Throughout her career she has held positions of increasing responsibility, starting as assistant to the plant manager at Luden's and manufacturing manager and plant manager at H.B. Reese Candy Co. She later moved to Hershey's where she has served as directory of quality assurance, vice president of quality and regulatory compliance, vice president and senior vice president of human resources and corporate affairs, and most recently as senior vice president and chief people officer. In her current role, Arline is responsible for human resources, communications, corporate affairs, compensation, benefits, security, flight operations and facilities management. Arline has served on the board of directors of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association and the Agriculture Alumni Organization, and is a member of the Agriculture Leadership Council. She also serves as a member of the Shippensburg University College of Business Advisory Council.

Eddie F. Hearp '65

A 1965 graduate with a bachelor's degree in business administration, Hearp received a master's degree in 1966. He joined National Financial Services Inc., a 100-year-old insurance and investment planning firm, in 1970 and has been president since 1983. He is a life member of The Million Dollar Round Table and has served as president of the Roanoke Valley General Agents and Managers Association and the Roanoke Chapter of Chartered Life Underwriters. He serves on the board of directors of Valley Bank and has served on a number of other boards including the American Heart Association, the Science Museum, and the Renew Roanoke Campaign for Hotel Roanoke. Hearp has maintained a strong commitment to Virginia Tech and is a Lifetime Golden Hokie, an Endowed Scholarship Participant and a member of the Ut Prosim and Legacy Societies. He is a past-president of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, was a member of the Alumni Center National Leadership Campaign, Foundation Board, and Bowman Society. Hearp also served as co-chairman of the Roanoke Valley Campaign Committee, serving with his son, Todd, and daughter, Shelley, which raised more than $34 million for the Virginia Tech Campaign for Excellence.

Eugene "Gene" E. Fife '62

Fife, a native of Hinton, West Virginia, received his bachelor's degree in business administration in 1962. He earned his master's degree from the University of Southern California in 1968, and served as an officer of the United States Air Force. Fife is a retired general partner of Goldman Sachs & Co. In 1988, he was named chairman of Goldman Sachs International where he played a pivotal role in establishing the firm in Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. He joined the Goldman Sachs Management Committee in 1990, and continued to hold these positions until his retirement in 1995. Following retirement from Goldman Sachs, Fife founded Vawter Capital, LLC, a private investment firm in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is the non-executive chairman of Eclipsys Corporation, a leading provider of medical information software. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Caterpillar, Inc., serves on the operating board of the University of Virginia Medical Center and is a trustee of Berea College, Concord College, and St. Anne's-Belfield School. Fife also is a member of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. He has served Virginia Tech as a member of the Virginia Tech Foundation Board and the Virginia Tech Foundation Executive Committee and is a member of the Campaign Steering Committee, a benefactor of the Ut Prosim Society and funds
scholarships for students from Hinton, West Virginia.

Alumni Award for Outreach Excellence:

Leon Geyer - Professor of Environmental & Agricultural Law & Economics

Alumni Award for Team Outreach Excellence:

Kristi R. DeCourcy - Laboratory Manager, Department of Biochemistry

Erin Dolan - Assistant Professor of Biochemistry

Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching:

Roseanne J. Foti - Associate Professor of Psychology

Abigail W. Kohler - Instructor of Mathematics

William E. Wine Awards (for Teaching):

William T. Baumann - Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Gary L. Long - Associate Professor of Chemistry

Paul M. Sorrentino - Professor of English

Alumni Award for Excellence in Graduate Academic Advising:

Terry Kershaw - Chair, Africana Studies and Associate Professor of Sociology

Alumni Award for Excellence in International Outreach and Research:

David G.I. Kingston - University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry

Alumni Award for Excellence in International Education:

Victoria R. Fu - Professor of Human Development

Alumni Award for Excellence in Research:

Michael W. Hyer - Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics

Michael F. Hochella, Jr. - Professor of Geosciences

Alumni Award for Excellence in Extension:

Ruby Cox - Professor of Human Nutrition, Foods & Exercise

Glenda Moorefield Snyder - Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Botetourt County Extension Office

Sporn Award for Teaching Introductory Subjects:

Diane Agud - Instructor of Mathematics

Sporn Award for Teaching Engineering Subjects:

Kimberly Ellis - Associate Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Graduate Student Awards:

Christy Wolfe - Psychology (Instruction Award)

Lori Blanc - Biology (Service Award)

Graduate Alumni Achievement Award:

Judith S. Bailey '73, '76 - Educational Administration

Outstanding Student Awards

Class of 2005 graduates who were recognized by the Alumni Association for scholarship and leadership

Lindsey Ann George - College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

Joanna Carey - College of Architecture & Urban Studies

Lauren Silvestri - Pamplin College of Business

Ashley White - College of Engineering

Kristen Lee Ekey - College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences

Hilary Brandt Camblos - College of Natural Resources

W. Brandon Bull - College of Science

Jason Wall - College of Veterinary Medicine

Outstanding Young Alumni Awards

Graduates from each college, completing degrees in the past 10 years, who have distinguished themselves professionally

Thomas W. Broyles '94, '99, '04; Christiansburg, VA
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

David Jameson '90; Bethesda, MD
College of Architecture & Urban Studies

Michael D. Neese '94; Richmond, VA
Pamplin College of Business

Steven M. Belz '95, '97, '00; Pittsford, NY
College of Engineering

Andrew Rotherham '94; Earlysville, VA
College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences

Daniel L. Goerlich '94; Nathalie, VA
College of Natural Resources

William S. Bryant '99; Nazareth, PA
College of Science

Mira J. Leslie '94; Shoreline, WA
College of Veterinary Medicine